From staff reports

Maine’s jobless rate in May essentially remained unchanged from the previous month.

According to preliminary data from the Maine Department of Labor, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 4.7 percent for May was unchanged from April and down from 5.7 percent one year ago. The number of unemployed declined 7,800 over the year to 32,200.

The U.S. preliminary unemployment rate of 5.5 percent was little changed from 5.4 percent in April and down from 6.3 percent one year ago. The New England unemployment rate averaged 4.9 percent. Rates for other states were 3.8 percent in New Hampshire, 3.6 percent in Vermont, 4.6 percent in Massachusetts, 5.9 percent in Rhode Island and 6.0 percent in Connecticut.

The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was below the statewide average in all three metro areas: Portland-South Portland (3.8 percent), Lewiston-Auburn (4.4 percent), and Bangor (4.5 percent).


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